Improved washing machine



GEORGE L. WITSIL, OF' PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO' THOMAS E. HAUBERGER, OE SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 70,667, dated .November 5, 1867.

4IlltiPROVlD WASHING MACHINE.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. WITSIL, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specication, in whicht Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal partial section.

The same letters are employed in the several gures for the indication ofthe same parts.

This'inventionrelates to a machine for washing clothes, in which the operation of washing is effected by tn e agitation of the clothes immersed in water, the friction being increased by the peculiar form of the case, and the disposition of theribs placed on the inner surfaces; and consists in the peculiar arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter fully set forth.

The revolving case is supported upon a frame, A, suitably constructed and braced to support the case which contains 'the clothes. and wash-water. This case is formed by two stelliform heads B, on the radiate sides of which are the boards C, which form with the heads a water-tight box, into which the wash-water and clothes may be introduced through a. door, D, which, forming one ofthe sides, is properly packed with India rubber or felt to form water-tight joints. This door may be secured in many ways, of which I propose the one shown in the drawings, inwhich E is a strong metallic hook, under which the door slides, and which compresses the door` against the packing on the one side, while the other is compressed and conned by means of another hook, F, which is attached to one ofthe radiate sides far enough from the surface of the door topermit the wedge ll" to be driven between the hook and the door, by its force pressing the door against thc packing, so as to form a water-tight joint. The case is suspended upon journals turning on suitable bearings on the frame A. The journal G is made with a tubular opening traversing its entire length, forming a free atmospheric communication from the outside to the interior chamber, and permitting any atmospheric disturbance on the part of the air within the chamber resisting the free movement of the clothes and .wash-water with the rotation of the case, which is effected by means of the winch H.

As one important object sought to be effected by this improved machine `is the thorough cleansing of the clothes without rubbing them between surfaces, a treatment found in practice to be so detrimental tothe clothes, it is important to provide a suicient gentle friction, in co'hnection with the agitation of thewater in which they are immersed, to effect the requisite puriiication. This I e`e'ct by means of ribs I, which are attached to the inner surface of the radiate sides C, being disposed diagonally across the same, being so placed that they shall traverse their respective sides in alternate diagonal directions, so that the clothes, with the revolution of the case, shall be forced to travel from end to end as they are carried into the successive radial subdivisions-oil the s-telliform case, theirown weight compressing them between the converging ribs, and increasing the friction suiciently to etlect the object desired without unnecessary injury to the clothes. It will not be expedient to turn the winch rapidly, so that the centrifugal force holding the clothes at the extremities of the subdivisions will prevent the proper action of the machine.

Having fully set forth the nature, construction, and mode of operation of my improved washing machine,

what I claim as myl invention, and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent, is

The stelliforin case, with radiate sides C and door D, turning upon a tubular journal, G, and having diag onal internal ribs I, the several parts being constructed and arranged in relation tn one another substantially as set forth.

In testimony'whereof I have signed my name to this specication inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' eno. L. WIrsIL. Witnesses:

B. Mason, D. P. HoLLowAY. 

